The Minnesota Timberwolves will be without their star center when they face the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Qualifying Tournament game on Tuesday…because the team was just suspended Rudy Gobert a game for hitting his teammate.
Gobert – who swung at Kyle Anderson during a timeout in Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans – will join his teammates for the remainder of Wolves’ play-in tournament and beyond.
It’s a blow for Minnesota – Wolves gave up four first-round picks for 2022 three-time Defensive Player of the Year… and will be tasked with trying to upset a hot Lakers team that has apparently figured things out just in time for the playoffs.
Gobert was sent home of Sunday’s game … and apologized for his actions shortly after.
“Emotions got the better of me today,” Gobert said. “I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did no matter what was said. I want to apologize to the fans, to the organization and especially to Kyle, who is someone I really love and respect as a teammate.
According Adrian WojnarowskiWolves believe Gobert’s punch was not intended to injure his team-mate… but given that it hit Anderson in the chest, they had no other choice.
The report also states that it all started after Anderson repeatedly called Gobert a “bitch”.
As for Anderson… he briefly addressed the incident after the game, saying he wanted to keep things internal.
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